feat(tui): simplify conversation detail and quiet chat output

packages/coding-agent/.changes/ui-chat-output.md

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+- Changed assistant message body text to a new dimmed `mdBody` theme color, easing the wall of bright default-foreground text while headings, links, and code keep their styling.
+- Changed prime-theme inline code to a darker neutral (#c8c8cd) so it stays distinct from the dimmed body text.
+- Added a three-stage Ctrl+O cycle for overview, thinking and file diffs, and all output, replacing the separate Ctrl+J and Ctrl+T conversation shortcuts without changing saved traces.
+- Changed thinking rows to stay hidden in overview and appear as dim text without a repeated heading in the other detail modes, including newly streamed thinking.
+- Changed collapsed tool-call previews to render plain and dim instead of green or syntax-highlighted code, with dim line counts and durations, while expanded blocks keep full highlighting.
+- Changed decorative bold text in the conversation surface to normal weight, keeping bold only where it marks state or a single critical item (selected rows, active tabs, the login verification code).
+- Changed the conversation row hierarchy: event-row trailing detail (agent-message participants, tool command previews, line counts, durations) renders dim while leading labels keep their colors.
+- Changed background shell completions to update identifiable command rows, with compact fallback notices and full notifications retained in all output.
+- Replaced repeated conversation detail shortcut hints with a status label showing the current detail mode and configurable expand or collapse shortcut.
+- Changed expanded file diffs to start at the normal chat inset while preserving code indentation and diff gutters.
+- Changed sent and received agent messages to keep compact notices in overview and details, show full bodies only in all output, and use the shared detail cycle instead of a separate Ctrl+P toggle.
+- Fixed spacing after background shell completions and matched unique literal assignment-only shell launches to their completion notices.
+- Fixed multiline Python string colors across source lines and narrow wrapping, and kept embedded string content out of collapsed code previews.

packages/coding-agent/README.md

@@ -182,9 +182,8 @@ See `/hotkeys` for the full list. Customize via `~/.prime/agent/keybindings.json
 | Escape | Clear the input without interrupting active work |
 | Escape twice | Open `/tree` |
 | Ctrl+L | Open model selector |
-| Ctrl+P / Shift+Ctrl+P | Cycle scoped models forward/backward |
-| Ctrl+O | Collapse/expand tool output |
-| Ctrl+T | Collapse/expand thinking blocks |
+| Ctrl+P | Collapse/expand agent-to-agent messages |
+| Ctrl+O | Cycle overview → thinking and file diffs → all output |
 
 ### Message Queue
 

packages/coding-agent/docs/keybindings.md

@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ Modifier combinations: `ctrl+shift+x`, `alt+ctrl+x`, `ctrl+shift+alt+x`, `ctrl+1
 |--------|---------|-------------|
 | `app.model.select` | `ctrl+l` | Open model selector |
 | `app.model.toggleScope` | `alt+s` | Toggle between all and scoped models |
-| `app.thinking.toggle` | `ctrl+t` | Collapse or expand thinking blocks |
 
 ### Configuration Menu
 
@@ -129,15 +128,15 @@ Use `tab` to cycle forward and `shift+tab` to cycle backward through Providers,
 
 | Keybinding id | Default | Description |
 |--------|---------|-------------|
-| `app.tools.expand` | `ctrl+o` | Collapse or expand tool output |
-| `app.messages.expand` | `ctrl+p` | Collapse or expand agent-to-agent messages |
-| `app.edits.expand` | `ctrl+j` | Collapse or expand edit diffs |
+| `app.tools.expand` | `ctrl+o` | Cycle overview → thinking and file diffs → all output |
 | `app.message.followUp` | `alt+enter` | Queue follow-up message |
 | `app.message.navigateOlder` | `alt+up` | Select the next older pending message |
 | `app.message.navigateNewer` | `alt+down` | Select the next newer pending message or restore the draft |
 | `app.message.moveEarlier` | `ctrl+alt+up` | Move the selected pending message one place earlier in its queue |
 | `app.message.moveLater` | `ctrl+alt+down` | Move the selected pending message one place later in its queue |
 
+Ctrl+O changes presentation only: the default hides thinking and collapses tools and diffs; the first press reveals thinking and file diffs; the second expands tool output and full agent-to-agent message bodies; the third returns to the default. Compact sent and received message notices remain visible in every mode. This also works for restored conversations and new streaming content. Ctrl+J, Ctrl+T, and Ctrl+P no longer control conversation expansion.
+
 ### Tree Navigation
 
 | Keybinding id | Default | Description |
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ On native Windows, `app.suspend` has no default binding because Windows terminal
 
 ### Emacs Example
 
-Binding `ctrl+p` below releases the conflicting `app.messages.expand` default; shortcuts in other views keep their defaults.
+Binding `ctrl+p` below moves the editor cursor up; shortcuts in other views keep their defaults.
 
 ```json
 {

packages/coding-agent/docs/themes.md

@@ -79,9 +79,12 @@ vim ~/.prime/agent/themes/my-theme.json
     "toolPendingBg": "#1e1e2e",
     "toolSuccessBg": "#1e2e1e",
     "toolErrorBg": "#2e1e1e",
+    "toolDiffAddedBg": "#0a2f0a",
+    "toolDiffRemovedBg": "#2f0a0a",
     "toolPanelBg": "#2d2d38",
     "toolTitle": "primary",
     "toolOutput": "",
+    "mdBody": "",
     "mdHeading": "#ffaa00",
     "mdLink": "primary",
     "mdLinkUrl": "secondary",
@@ -94,6 +97,7 @@ vim ~/.prime/agent/themes/my-theme.json
     "mdListBullet": "#00ffff",
     "toolDiffAdded": "#00ff00",
     "toolDiffRemoved": "#ff0000",
+    "toolDiffText": "secondary",
     "toolDiffContext": "secondary",
     "syntaxComment": "secondary",
     "syntaxKeyword": "primary",
@@ -140,13 +144,13 @@ vim ~/.prime/agent/themes/my-theme.json
 
 - `name` is required and must be unique.
 - `vars` is optional. Define reusable colors here, then reference them in `colors`.
-- `colors` must define all 51 required tokens.
+- `colors` must define all 56 required tokens.
 
 The `$schema` field enables editor auto-completion and validation.
 
 ## Color Tokens
 
-Every theme must define all 51 color tokens. There are no optional colors.
+Every theme must define all 56 color tokens. There are no optional colors.
 
 ### Core UI (11 colors)
 
@@ -181,10 +185,11 @@ Every theme must define all 51 color tokens. There are no optional colors.
 | `toolTitle` | Tool title |
 | `toolOutput` | Tool output text |
 
-### Markdown (10 colors)
+### Markdown (11 colors)
 
 | Token | Purpose |
 |-------|---------|
+| `mdBody` | Assistant output body text |
 | `mdHeading` | Headings |
 | `mdLink` | Link text |
 | `mdLinkUrl` | Link URL |

packages/coding-agent/docs/tui.md

@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ renderResult(result, options, theme, context) {
 | Messages | `userMessageText`, `customMessageText`, `customMessageLabel` |
 | Tools | `toolTitle`, `toolOutput` |
 | Diffs | `toolDiffAdded`, `toolDiffRemoved`, `toolDiffContext` |
-| Markdown | `mdHeading`, `mdLink`, `mdLinkUrl`, `mdCode`, `mdCodeBlock`, `mdCodeBlockBorder`, `mdQuote`, `mdQuoteBorder`, `mdHr`, `mdListBullet` |
+| Markdown | `mdBody`, `mdHeading`, `mdLink`, `mdLinkUrl`, `mdCode`, `mdCodeBlock`, `mdCodeBlockBorder`, `mdQuote`, `mdQuoteBorder`, `mdHr`, `mdListBullet` |
 | Syntax | `syntaxComment`, `syntaxKeyword`, `syntaxFunction`, `syntaxVariable`, `syntaxString`, `syntaxNumber`, `syntaxType`, `syntaxOperator`, `syntaxPunctuation` |
 | Thinking | `thinkingOff`, `thinkingMinimal`, `thinkingLow`, `thinkingMedium`, `thinkingHigh`, `thinkingXhigh` |
 | Modes | `bashMode` |

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/hidden-thinking-label.ts

@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@
  * Hidden Thinking Label Extension
  *
  * Demonstrates `ctx.ui.setHiddenThinkingLabel()` for customizing the label shown
- * when thinking blocks are hidden.
+ * above visible thinking blocks.
  *
  * Usage:
  *   pi --extension examples/extensions/hidden-thinking-label.ts
  *
  * Test:
  *   1. Load this extension
- *   2. Hide thinking blocks with Ctrl+T
+ *   2. Press Ctrl+O once to show thinking and file diffs
  *   3. Ask for something that produces reasoning output
- *   4. The collapsed thinking block label will show the custom text
+ *   4. The thinking block label will show the custom text
  *
  * Commands:
  *   /thinking-label <text>   Set a custom hidden thinking label

packages/coding-agent/src/core/extensions/runner.ts

@@ -67,9 +67,6 @@ const RESERVED_KEYBINDINGS_FOR_EXTENSION_CONFLICTS = [
 	"app.suspend",
 	"app.model.select",
 	"app.tools.expand",
-	"app.messages.expand",
-	"app.edits.expand",
-	"app.thinking.toggle",
 	"app.subagents.focus",
 	"app.editor.external",
 	"app.message.followUp",

packages/coding-agent/src/core/keybindings.ts

@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ export interface AppKeybindings {
 	"app.model.toggleScope": true;
 	"app.configuration.previousTab": true;
 	"app.tools.expand": true;
-	"app.messages.expand": true;
-	"app.edits.expand": true;
-	"app.thinking.toggle": true;
 	"app.subagents.focus": true;
 	"app.heartbeats.open": true;
 	"app.heartbeats.openSelected": true;
@@ -88,18 +85,7 @@ export const KEYBINDINGS = {
 	"app.model.select": { defaultKeys: "ctrl+l", description: "Open model selector" },
 	"app.model.toggleScope": { defaultKeys: "alt+s", description: "Toggle model selector scope" },
 	"app.configuration.previousTab": { defaultKeys: "shift+tab", description: "Select previous configuration tab" },
-	"app.tools.expand": { defaultKeys: "ctrl+o", description: "Toggle tool output", defaultKeyScope: "editor" },
-	"app.messages.expand": {
-		defaultKeys: "ctrl+p",
-		description: "Toggle agent message expansion",
-		defaultKeyScope: "editor",
-	},
-	"app.edits.expand": { defaultKeys: "ctrl+j", description: "Toggle edit diffs", defaultKeyScope: "editor" },
-	"app.thinking.toggle": {
-		defaultKeys: "ctrl+t",
-		description: "Toggle thinking blocks",
-		defaultKeyScope: "editor",
-	},
+	"app.tools.expand": { defaultKeys: "ctrl+o", description: "Cycle conversation detail", defaultKeyScope: "editor" },
 	"app.subagents.focus": {
 		defaultKeys: "alt+a",
 		description: "Open child agents",
@@ -271,7 +257,6 @@ const KEYBINDING_NAME_MIGRATIONS = {
 	suspend: "app.suspend",
 	selectModel: "app.model.select",
 	expandTools: "app.tools.expand",
-	toggleThinking: "app.thinking.toggle",
 	focusSubagents: "app.subagents.focus",
 	externalEditor: "app.editor.external",
 	followUp: "app.message.followUp",

packages/coding-agent/src/core/settings-manager.ts

@@ -959,7 +959,8 @@ export class SettingsManager {
 	}
 
 	getHideThinkingBlock(): boolean {
-		return this.settings.hideThinkingBlock ?? false;
+		// Defaults to true: thinking rows stay hidden unless explicitly opted out.
+		return this.settings.hideThinkingBlock ?? true;
 	}
 
 	setHideThinkingBlock(hide: boolean): void {

packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/bash.ts

@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ function formatDuration(ms: number): string {
 function formatBashCall(args: { command?: string; timeout?: number } | undefined): string {
 	const command = str(args?.command);
 	const timeout = args?.timeout as number | undefined;
-	const timeoutSuffix = timeout ? theme.fg("muted", ` (timeout ${timeout}s)`) : "";
+	const timeoutSuffix = timeout ? theme.fg("dim", ` (timeout ${timeout}s)`) : "";
 	let commandDisplay: string;
 	if (command === null) {
 		commandDisplay = invalidArgText(theme);
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ function formatBashCall(args: { command?: string; timeout?: number } | undefined
 	} else {
 		commandDisplay = theme.fg("toolOutput", "...");
 	}
-	return theme.fg("toolTitle", theme.bold(`$ ${commandDisplay}`)) + timeoutSuffix;
+	return theme.fg("dim", `$ ${commandDisplay}`) + timeoutSuffix;
 }
 
 function rebuildBashResultRenderComponent(
@@ -228,8 +228,8 @@ function rebuildBashResultRenderComponent(
 					}
 					if (state.cachedSkipped && state.cachedSkipped > 0) {
 						const hint = showExpandHint
-							? `${theme.fg("muted", `... ${state.cachedSkipped} earlier lines`)} ${expandCollapseHint("app.tools.expand", false)}`
-							: theme.fg("muted", `... (${state.cachedSkipped} earlier lines)`);
+							? `${theme.fg("dim", `... ${state.cachedSkipped} earlier lines`)} ${expandCollapseHint("app.tools.expand", false)}`
+							: theme.fg("dim", `... (${state.cachedSkipped} earlier lines)`);
 						return ["", truncateToWidth(hint, width, "..."), ...(state.cachedLines ?? [])];
 					}
 					return ["", ...(state.cachedLines ?? [])];
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ function rebuildBashResultRenderComponent(
 	if (startedAt !== undefined) {
 		const label = options.isPartial ? "Elapsed" : "Took";
 		const endTime = endedAt ?? Date.now();
-		component.addChild(new Text(`\n${theme.fg("muted", `${label} ${formatDuration(endTime - startedAt)}`)}`, 0, 0));
+		component.addChild(new Text(`\n${theme.fg("dim", `${label} ${formatDuration(endTime - startedAt)}`)}`, 0, 0));
 	}
 }
 

packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/code-preview.ts

@@ -458,30 +458,32 @@ function scanPythonStringLiteral(code: string, start: number, quote: string, raw
 	return { value, end: i, closed: false, unsupportedEscape };
 }
 
-// True when the lines end inside an unterminated triple-quoted string.
-function endsInsideMultilineString(lines: readonly string[]): boolean {
-	const text = lines.join("\n");
+/** Keep source-line positions while excluding lines that begin inside string literals. */
+export function pythonStatementLines(code: string): string[] {
+	const lines = code.split("\n");
+	let line = 0;
 	let i = 0;
-	while (i < text.length) {
-		const char = text[i] ?? "";
+	while (i < code.length) {
+		const char = code[i]!;
 		if (char === "#") {
-			const newline = text.indexOf("\n", i);
-			if (newline < 0) return false;
-			i = newline + 1;
+			const newline = code.indexOf("\n", i);
+			if (newline < 0) break;
+			i = newline;
 			continue;
 		}
 		if (char === '"' || char === "'") {
-			const quote = text.startsWith(char.repeat(3), i) ? char.repeat(3) : char;
-			const scan = scanPythonStringLiteral(text, i + quote.length, quote, true);
-			if (!scan.closed && scan.end >= text.length) {
-				return quote.length === 3;
+			const quote = code.startsWith(char.repeat(3), i) ? char.repeat(3) : char;
+			const scan = scanPythonStringLiteral(code, i + quote.length, quote, true);
+			for (let end = i; end < scan.end; end++) {
+				if (code[end] === "\n") lines[++line] = "";
 			}
 			i = scan.end;
 			continue;
 		}
-		i += 1;
+		if (char === "\n") line++;
+		i++;
 	}
-	return false;
+	return lines;
 }
 
 function extractBashSkillCommand(code: string): string | undefined {
@@ -499,7 +501,8 @@ function extractBashSkillCommand(code: string): string | undefined {
 }
 
 export function previewPythonCode(code: string): CodePreview {
-	const lines = code.split("\n");
+	const rawLines = code.split("\n");
+	const lines = pythonStatementLines(code);
 	const paths = pythonPathVars(lines);
 	let bestIndex: number | undefined;
 	let bestScore = -1;
@@ -514,10 +517,8 @@ export function previewPythonCode(code: string): CodePreview {
 
 	if (bestIndex !== undefined && bestScore >= 0) {
 		const previewIndex = pythonPreviewIndex(lines, bestIndex);
-		// Extract from the full tail (literals may span lines), unless the chosen line is string text.
-		const bashCommand = endsInsideMultilineString(lines.slice(0, previewIndex))
-			? undefined
-			: extractBashSkillCommand(lines.slice(previewIndex).join("\n"));
+		// Extract from the original tail because a literal command may span lines.
+		const bashCommand = extractBashSkillCommand(rawLines.slice(previewIndex).join("\n"));
 		if (bashCommand) {
 			return previewBashCommand(bashCommand);
 		}

packages/coding-agent/src/core/tools/edit.ts

@@ -4,11 +4,7 @@ import { constants } from "fs";
 import { access as fsAccess, readFile as fsReadFile, writeFile as fsWriteFile } from "fs/promises";
 import { type Static, Type } from "typebox";
 import { renderDiff } from "../../modes/interactive/components/diff.js";
-import {
-	countChangedLines,
-	FILE_CHANGE_DIFF_INDENT,
-	formatFileChangeSummaryLine,
-} from "../../modes/interactive/components/edit-summary.js";
+import { countChangedLines, formatFileChangeSummaryLine } from "../../modes/interactive/components/edit-summary.js";
 import type { ToolDefinition } from "../extensions/types.js";
 import {
 	applyEditsToNormalizedContent,
@@ -202,8 +198,8 @@ function formatEditCall(
 	const invalidArg = invalidArgText(theme);
 	const rawPath = str(args?.file_path ?? args?.path);
 	const path = rawPath !== null ? shortenPath(rawPath) : null;
-	const pathDisplay = path === null ? invalidArg : path ? theme.fg("accent", path) : theme.fg("toolOutput", "...");
-	return `${theme.fg("toolTitle", theme.bold("edit"))} ${pathDisplay}`;
+	const pathDisplay = path === null ? invalidArg : path ? theme.fg("dim", path) : theme.fg("toolOutput", "...");
+	return `${theme.fg("toolTitle", "edit")} ${pathDisplay}`;
 }
 
 function formatEditResult(
@@ -249,8 +245,7 @@ function getEditHeaderBg(
 	return (text: string) => theme.bg("toolPendingBg", text);
 }
 
-// Width-aware `╰─ <path> +N -M` summary plus optional indented diff rows: the
-// summary truncates to one row and wrapped diff lines keep the indent column.
+// Width-aware file summary with optional diff rows at the containing box's content margin.
 class EditChangeSummaryComponent implements Component {
 	constructor(
 		private readonly rawPath: string,
@@ -264,11 +259,9 @@ class EditChangeSummaryComponent implements Component {
 		const safeWidth = Math.max(1, width);
 		const lines = [formatFileChangeSummaryLine(this.rawPath, this.cwd, this.change, this.diffsExpanded, safeWidth)];
 		if (this.diffLines !== undefined) {
-			const indent = FILE_CHANGE_DIFF_INDENT.slice(0, Math.max(0, safeWidth - 1));
-			const contentWidth = Math.max(1, safeWidth - indent.length);
 			for (const line of this.diffLines) {
-				for (const row of wrapTextWithAnsi(line, contentWidth)) {
-					lines.push(`${indent}${row}`);
+				for (const row of wrapTextWithAnsi(line, safeWidth)) {
+					lines.push(row);
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -299,8 +292,7 @@ function buildEditCallComponent(
 		return component;
 	}
 
-	// The `╰─ <path> +N -M` summary line renders in both states; ctrl+j only
-	// attaches or removes the indented diff lines underneath it.
+	// Keep the file summary visible while detail expansion reveals the diff.
 	const rawPath = str(args?.file_path ?? args?.path);
 	const change = countChangedLines(component.preview.diff);
 	component.addChild(new Spacer(1));
@@ -309,9 +301,6 @@ function buildEditCallComponent(
 			rawPath ?? "...",
 			cwd,
 			change,
-			// The ctrl+j hint renders on every edit summary row (unlike the ctrl+o
-			// hint, which the latest tool row owns), matching thinking and
-			// agent-message hints.
 			expanded,
 			expanded ? renderDiff(component.preview.diff).split("\n") : undefined,
 		),